Jago‬ Moving Forward Community Meet

Jago‬ Moving Forward Community Meet

WEDNESDAY, 20th JULY 2016

Special 255th Health Awareness Roadshow organized at village Salar Majra.

Along with the regular checkups for ‪‎Diabetes‬, Hypertension‬ and ‎Haemoglobin‬ a special Jago‬ Moving Forward Community Meet was held to invite feedback and discuss concerns with community members of the 25 Jago Campaign. Prevention of Violence against Women is an important component of MBCT’s Gender Equality & Women Empowerment programme.

Dr. Manmeet Kaur explained the meaning of JAGO Moving Forward to the villagers, she engaged the community members in a problem sharing exercise which generated number of critical issues like drug addiction and alcoholism, health education, lack of stree-lights in villages and dependable public transport which limit mobility for women and also their access to opportunities. Need was expressed for increasing the scope and reach of Jago Project.

Mr. Prashant Verma, Chief Judicial Magistrate – Legel Services Fatehgarh Sahib ‎FGS‬ joined the meet and also addressed the villagers on saving and educating the girl child. Mr. Ravi Harjivan Singh Sidhu (Advocate) also addressed the villagers and educated them about the free legal services provided by District administration.

Mr Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, Deputy Commissioner spoke at length on the importance of community capacity building to manage issues at the village level in a judicious manner. He asked the village elders and leaders to be sensitive towards the requirements of girls and women. Further, he announced that in case of any issues he could be reached directly, any time.

Dr. Christopher Gibbins, talked about the importance of prevention of all forms of violence against girls and women. He talked about gender equality being a top priority for the Canadian Government. He commended the Jago Champions in taking initiative to stop violence against women, and standing up for gender equality.

ADDRESS BY THE CONSUL GENERAL OF CANADA IN CHANDIGARH, DR. CHRISTOPHER GIBBINS

JAGO Moving Forward Meet, Village Salar Majra, 20th July 2016

It is an honour and a pleasure for me and my wife to join you at this JAGO Moving Forward Meeting. Thank you very much to the Mehar Baba Charitable Trust for inviting us here today. Deputy Commissioner, distinguished members of the dais, members of the community.

There are few issues as fundamental and as important as those you are engaged on here, and those the Mehar Baba Charitable Trust is dedicated to - women’s rights, women’s health, violence against women, the equality of women and girls. Time and again, studies have told us what that the more women and girls are part of every aspect of society, the stronger, healthier, and wealthier that society is.

In other words, the issue of gender equality isn’t only an issue of human rights - it is an essential component of sustainable development, social justice, and peace and security. For Canada, gender equality is not simply a Government priority - it is increasingly at the heart of everything we do. Gender considerations - the impact on women and girls, the role of women and girls, and importantly the voices of women and girls - shape our policies and programs.

Very significantly Canada’s national cabinet of thirty ministers is made up on 50% women. And I can assure you that that is far more than a symbolic gesture. Not only are some of the most demanding, toughest portfolios held by women, but the point is that women are at the heart of the decision-making process. Women’s voices are heard, and they are shaping the future.

This is critically important - it is essential that women and girls are full, equal participants in decision-making at all levels and in all spheres - political, economic and social. I was recently in Canada for some meetings and had the pleasure and honour to hear four of our ministers (three of whom were women) and Prime Minister Trudeau - who calls himself a feminist, by the way - speak. And every one spoke of how central the issue of women and girls is to their policies and agenda. So what does this mean?

Well, internationally, it means that Canada is a world leader on the issue of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, for example. In fact, Canada has committed $3.5 billion dollars over five years in dedicated programming on this issue alone. Improving the health of mothers, newborns and children around the world is Canada’s top development priority. Canada is also a leader on the issue of Child and Early Forced Marriage. Canada is supporting programmes at the national and grassroots levels to affect real change for girls and women.

Since 2013, Canada has invested over $80 million in targeted funding to the prevention of child, early and forced marriage, protecting those at risk and supporting already married girls and women. For over twenty years, Canada has been advocating for the elimination of violence against women based on the strong belief that violence against women and girls is an obstacle to the realization of equality, economic empowerment, development and peace. We all recognize the destructive effects that gender-based violence can have on individuals, families and communities. Violence and lack of support for victims can exacerbate situations of poverty. Far too often the result is an overwhelming cycle of poverty and violence that is difficult to overcome — a cycle that often becomes intergenerational. And last year, Canada proudly supported the wonderful Jago project of the Mehar Baba Charitable Trust.

In conclusion, I think it is important to recall that the role women are increasingly playing in Canadian society - and there is still a lot of work to do - has only come about by women, and men, fighting for it. Changes in society and in our cultural and social habits do not come about on their own - people have to believe in them and work for them.

Nor can change be forced on people. Change comes about through dialogue and by people practicing what they preach. Showing others that change is possible. Showing others that women and girls CAN be active, positive, contributors to society, to politics, to business. Women and girls can be transformative agents of change. And through the work you are doing here today, and through the JAGOall of you, and the Mehar Baba Charitable Trust, are clearly agents of change.